FEMINISM is a tough concept these days. Everybody supports gender equality, but to call this feminism is a step too far for many women. So where does this leave men who declare themselves feminists?
For one thing, we’re not all equal. Equality is not about treating everybody the same. It’s about providing access for everybody (whatever their gender, caring responsibilities, religious affiliation, race or disability) to the same opportunities. Equality means making an effort.
The feminist icon persists as one of a dungarees-wearing, bilious screamer who hates men, an image taken straight from seventies women’s libbers. This suits the white male-dominated establishment just fine. As long as those pesky feminists are viewed as mysandrist nut cases we can get on with what we do best and pay ourselves higher wages than women and keep them at home.
Thankfully, this view is slowly evaporating. But the idea is deep rooted and remains contagious. Just like sectarianism and racism, it continues to infect sections of the population. Many women think feminism went out with the 80s. What, they say, would you want to be protesting about when the world is now full of equal opportunity and women have just as many routes to success as men?
Persistent wage inequality, poor access to training and employment and impossibly expensive child care might no longer matter to professional classes.
But among low wage earners are swathes of women for whom that access is barred, job security is precarious and child care is a daily logistical nightmare. Men go through this too but it’s worse for women.
Feminism these days is about activism. Take Womenstec, the training agency based in north Belfast. It has just announced a three-year programme with Clanmil Housing Association to help 500 young single mothers and other women to gain places on training programmes for construction sector skills.
The important initiative is supported by Gilbert Ash and JMC, two successful private sector construction firms. Their reason for supporting it is simple: they need new people with skills, women or men. But the challenge for women to enter a male dominated sector like construction is daunting. They need help and support.
Meanwhile, many professional women who claim not to be feminists make it awkward for any man to fight for gender equality. These women and men choose to ignore the fact that for other women, equality is still a distant goal. I’m all right, Jacqueline, I don’t need your feminist stuff.
Yet feminist stuff is still required throughout the employment spectrum. At the professional end improvements have been made but corporate boardrooms remain male dominated.
Gender equality can only be secured when men and women engage in the belief that both genders benefit from it. Child care, equal wage issues, access to training and employment quickly weed out the men from the women and this is not good for our economy. Where is the sense in making life difficult for a woman who is good at her job?
I’m not a feminist because I have two daughters, a working wife and extremely capable female colleagues. I am a feminist because access to opportunity is as critical to the success of our economy and society as is equality of race and religious belief. When we achieve an end to these prejudices, life will be better for all of us.
:: Joris Minne (joris.minne@jprni.com) is a board member at Women in Business NI. Regular contributor Roseann Kelly is on holiday.
